Beneath the Surface Blog

In dense metropolitan areas, traveling from building to building often involves lengthy rides down elevators, up elevators, and across traffic-laden city streets and sidewalks. The organizers for the Building to Building Pedestrian Bridge International Challenge in Montreal sought to inspire designers to originate ideas which would ease congestion, decrease travel times, and diversify the use of structures. The winning concept came from the architects from the Barcelona-based firm sanzpont [arquitectura] with their DSSH (Dynamic ShapeShifting Helix) Bridge.

This organic concept features a unique dynamic motion and sustainable technology. A helix-shaped support system holds the transparent surface in place. Seeming to come alive with foot traffic, these supports and the flexible surface will move and shift due to the stresses of people walking across it, creating a fluid motion and natural aesthetic. The scaffolds and walkway also become illuminated by RGB LEDs that transform the bridge into an energy-efficient, moving lighting feature during the night which can be seen from around the city.

The designers also incorporated sustainable features that minimize the bridge's environmental impact such as special photovoltaic solar cells and plants. Since the outside surface would move frequently throughout the day, sanzpont [arquitectura] used foldable cells that power the LEDs used for nighttime. The clear surface which the pedestrians actually walk on covers numerous plants that clean the interior air and provide fresh oxygen, suspending a garden hundreds of feet above the ground. A breathable membrane also increases airflow and circulation.

Creating responsive art high above the Montreal streets, sanzpont [arquitectura] certainly achieves their lofty concept.

Image credits: UrbanGlobalCities.blogspot.com, Architizer

Sculptural forms of translucent stretch fabric twist your loftiest design visions free from constraint. With lightweight properties, stretch fabric applications defy gravity and scale limitations. Large sleek expanses of material act as a blank canvas, producing sensational effects when illuminated or used as a projector screen to transmit images.

With an aesthetic that expresses impermanence and soaring freedom, stretch fabrics panels create a distinct spatial mood.  Imagine the potential for stretch fabric installations to function as key branding elements in your design! Check out this unique project:

The "E-Motion" light sculpture by architect Shashi Caan and lighting designer Matthew Tanteri crowns the Carnegie Science Center in Pittsburgh.  Polyester-based fabric weave is PVC coated for both UV protection and flame resistance, with a 50% open weave that allows it to adapt to the daylight and nighttime lighting conditions.  Four high intensity discharge luminaires distributed around the base of the sculpture (and one at the center) create the multicolor lighting effects at night.  The lighting program is run with computers, and it has been rumored that the design might eventually allow public control over the colors of the light sculpture.

Wondering what the vague form of the sculpture is intended to represent? According to FTL Design Engineering Studio's website, the organic shape was derived from the "buildings round forms, which mimic nature's structurally efficient, curved shapes". The landmark "marks this intriguing point in history when art and science are being linked in new, evocative ways. The sculpture connects the science and art of color, light and form, illustrating how colors subliminally evoke moods and moods evoke emotions. It also alludes to the era of telecommunications, information and interaction".

Has the subsequent addition of the lettering squashed the artistic representation of the sculpture, becoming just another mass-distributed corporate logo? What do you think?

Image credit: Shashi Caan, CJRodkey

I stumbled across a great article today that traces the history of backlit panels.  In the article “Techniques 7: The Backlit Panel”, Lauren Vanderkar and Doug James outline the evolution of backlit panels for architectural applications from office lighting to tequila bars.

With particular focus on site-specific conditions that create a need for these backlit wall or ceiling lighting techniques, the article is a balance of artistic thought and technical information.  While I can’t quite do justice to Lauren’s analysis in words, here’s a bit of a visual representation of this evolution:

It's interesting to note that as architectural materials and construction techniques continue to evolve, so do the lighting techniques that complement them. There is a distinct relationship between the scale of material and the scale of light; with modern architecture's tendency towards larger scale and clean lines, lighting techniques must follow suit.

GPI's environmental policy is straightforward: if it harms the environment, we avoid it. It is evident in everything we do here, form the cars we drive to the fluorescent-free lighting in our offices to recycling our own paper. You will find forward-thinking in our partnerships, in our processes and in our products. We believe our designs have an impact, maybe small, but an impact nonetheless. What matters most is that we are doing our best to influence smart, sustainable design and we are proud of our long history of environmentally-conscious design.

GPI International is committed to avoiding harmful environmental processes

• We use thin slices, just fractions of Mother Earth in our DURA-Lite™ natural stone panels (renewable).
• With thin, lightweight panels, our shipping footprint is a fraction of typical stone shipping footprints.
• Our custom natural stone panel fabrication produces up to 35% less waste.
• Our FLAT-Lite™ LED panels use very little energy and last for years and years.
• Our FLAT-Lite™ LED panels generate no heat, or hazardous material waste.
• Lighter, thinner products allow substantially less steel needed in our structural systems.
• We offer recycled glass products including a 100% post-consumer waste glass panel.
• Our PVC used in our stretch fabrics is 100% recycled.
• Increasing the use of wall panel substrates with recycled and no formaldehyde-added content.
• We are using or converting to aqueous-based adhesives and top coats with low emitting volatile organic compounds (VOC's).
• We use only HAPS compliant coatings.
• All saw dust produced in our manufacturing process is recycled.
• All low VOC solvents used in manufacturing are recycled.
• We recycle cardboard, clear plastic and paper used in our offices.
• We use LOW Emission and hybrid vehicles for company transportation.
• Protection and sustained yield management are strictly enforced.
• We no longer print marketing sales aids, all tech info and product sheets are sent electronically.
• When we do print in the office, we use "spranq eco sans" font that uses 20% less ink.

In doing our part to protect the environment, we will continue to pursue ways to find new, more sustainable solutions for our company and customers.

Our design team is continuously building our materials library with the latest and greatest in architectural surfaces. Backlighting translucent surfaces is what we do best- especially if you're crunched for space and need even illumination across a surface. Based on the properties of the surface you choose, we'll provide consultation for lighting systems and construction details to achieve your intended lighting effect.

GPI International can provide backlighting for virtually any translucent surface you can dream up. Here's just a sampling of recent products we've been integrating with our FLAT-Lite™ LED panels:

• Glass (recycled, printed, frosted)
• Resin / plastic / acrylic / polycarbonate / PETG
• Stretch fabrics
• Translucent honeycomb panels
• Screens

Interior designers, architects, spec. writers, contractors - what new products are you itching to use but haven't found the right application for yet?